Which fruit trees grow naturally in the desert?

When you’re landscaping your yard, you’ll want to be mindful of native plants. Plants that are native to your area are better for the environment, thrive in the local climate, and require less care than other species. This is particularly important in the Southwest, where drought-tolerant plants are a must. But what if you want to turn your garden into a beautiful oasis, with fruit trees and lush landscaping? This is possible, even in desert climes, if you choose for fruit trees that are native to the area. Which fruit trees naturally grow in desert climates? We can think of a few.

• Plum trees are a good option because of their low chill requirement. These lovely deciduous trees don’t get too tall, averaging only about 10 to 20 feet, and they burst into bloom with flowers in the spring. Once the flowers are spent, you’ll enjoy juicy, delicious plums. Be careful to plant them in a sunny location with well-drained soil and note that they are not drought tolerant. If they don’t get enough water, plum trees may drop their fruit. Santa Rosa plums are an excellent choice of plum tree because they are heat tolerant and hardy. They have white flowers and large red to purple plums with yellow flesh.
• It may surprise you to learn that apple trees grow well in desert climes. They have low chill requirements and can tolerate heat well. Some varieties, like the Anna, are particularly suited for hot climates with mild winters. Anna apple trees typically grow 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, with beautiful blossoms and sweet, crisp apples. Apple trees need soil that drains well, and they grow best in full sun.
• Pomegranates thrive in hot areas, and some can even be grown in a pot. They range from two to ten feet tall, and in areas that stay consistently warm, they perform as evergreen trees. Their reddish-orange, trumpet-shaped blossoms appear in summer, followed by the thick-skinned, round pomegranates, ranging from two to four inches in diameter and full of juicy, sweet sacs containing the seeds. Pomegranates grow best in a sunny spot with fertile, well-draining soil.
• Apricot trees have pink or white blossoms in spring. They grow to be about 15 to 20 feet tall and are self-pollinating. They do require some winter chill, but they’re also self-pollinating. Blenheim is a variety of apricot tree that does really well in a desert climate.
• Nectarine trees must be pruned back each year. This is because fruit only grows on first-year growth! If you prune them back sufficiently, though, you’ll have plenty of delicious fruit to share with your neighbors. Goldmine is a particularly good self-pollinating variety of nectarine.
• There are peach trees that have been specifically cultivated to live in desert climates. They’re good at tolerating heat, need low chill hours, and can produce fruit as early as three years. They grow from 8 to 20 feet tall and wide, and have pinkish spring flowers and juicy, sweet fruit. The Desert Gold variety thrives in this area and produces exceptionally good fruit. Peach trees grow well in fertile, well-draining, sandy loam soil.

When you’re ready to find hardy local plants, head to Moon Valley Nurseries. Moon Valley Nurseries started as a small neighborhood nursery garden center, and now has locations all across the West. We deliver and plant anything in our massive inventory, and because we grow our plants ourselves, we can give our customers the lowest prices in town, guaranteed. Whether you need ground cover, a tree or two, or an entire landscape, our friendly staff members will go the extra mile to make you happy. Contact us through our website, call us at (602) 388-1529, or stop by to check out all we have to offer, from the best trees and plants to professional crews and planters to certified designers ready to make your yard the best in the neighborhood.